The Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC) and Access Fund are thrilled to announce the acquisition of 309 acres in Beattyville, Kentucky. Named the Miller Fork Recreational Preserve, the land includes several miles of cliff line, some of which has been developed but with the vast majority of it awaiting discovery and development. There is potential for more than a dozen individual crags and hundreds of high-quality routes.

The RRGCC is looking for the support of climbers in paying back the $245,000 purchase price, something they have had success with in the past with the recently paid-off 750 acre Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve.

13-year-old Kai Lightner has been on a tear the past month or so, climbing his first 5.14s including Proper Soul in the New River Gorge (5.14a) and Transworld Depravity (5.14a) and Southern Smoke (5.14c) in the Red River Gorge according to DPM.

You can see footage of him climbing Southern Smoke here and a nice profile piece on him here.

With over 30,000 visitors last year, Muir Valley has become the most popular climbing destination in the eastern half of the country. For eight years, Rick and Liz Weber have shouldered the property and developmental expenses as their gift to the climbing community. But, now in their late 60s and facing declining health, the future of the valley is unclear.

If you’ve climbed in the Red River Gorge in the past 10 years the odds are pretty good you’ve climbed on the Weber’s property. The odds are also pretty good that you’ve climbed on their property at zero expense to yourself, so consider making a donation to Friends of Muir Valley if you want to see climbing continue on this incredible property into the future.